History of the Faberge Egg: The first Faberge egg, the Hen Egg, was created for Easter 1885 as a present from czar Alexander III to his wife Maria. Alexander was so happy with the Hen Egg that he established an annual tradition whereby Faberge would produce additional eggs every Easter. When Alexander died in 1894, his son Nicholas continued the tradition of Faberge eggs. He commissioned two for the following year, one for his mother and one for his wife. When the Russian Revolution came, the Communists seized Faberg'es business. He and his family fled to Switzerland, and the eggs were scattered or claimed by the Bolsheviks. Fifty Faberge eggs were made, but only 42 survived to the present day.

Today Faberge style eggs have different meanings for different people - priceless masterpieces, opulent symbols of Easter, or fancy trinkets. To collectors, they are precious and highly prized.